Five Marlins to watch this spring

Fans venturing to Jupiter for Marlins spring training would be wise to pack an updated roster. Including starting pitcher Josh Johnson, seven players from last year's debut lineup have been traded. Right fielder and cleanup hitter Giancarlo Stanton likely will be the lone team member in the same position come Opening Day April 1 in Washington. If he's healthy enough to play, Logan Morrison would be the only other 2012 Opening Night starter in the lineup, albeit at first base instead of left field. Here's a look at five guys to keep an eye on when camp opens next week:

Adeiny Hechavarria

The Marlins made an 11-player deal with the Blue Jays with an eye toward the future. They're counting on Hechavarria to contribute immediately. The slick-fielding shortstop has the unenviable task of replacing offensive catalyst Jose Reyes, who the Marlins shipped north of the border in the same trade. Hechavarria should provide much better defense than Reyes, but he's nowhere near as dynamic with the bat or on the basepaths. Whereas Reyes is a natural leadoff hitter and finished the season batting third, Hechavarria for now is more of a seven- or eight-hole guy. His bat came around in 2011-12 at Triple-A Las Vegas in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but he hit .254/.280/.365 in his first 41 big league at-bats last season.

Jose Fernandez

The Marlins won't have a legitimate top of the rotation pitcher to oppose Nationals' probable Opening Day starter Stephen Strasburg. The consensus is they have one coming. Fernandez, the club's first-round pick in 2011 out of Tampa Alonso High School, enters the season as the organization's top prospect and is among the most well-regarded arms in the minors. In 2012, Fernandez, between low-A Greensboro and advanced-A Jupiter, won 14 of 16 decisions, walked 39 and struck out 165 in 138 1/3 innings. He commands a four-pitch repertoire and at 6 feet 3, 215 pounds already has the physicality of a 200-inning workhorse. Fernandez is earmarked for Double-A Jacksonville, but if last season's performance was any indication, he won't be there long.

Joe Mahoney

Plucked off waivers in November, Mahoney should see plenty of time at first while Morrison works his way back from knee surgery. Morrison may not be ready for Opening Day, meaning the left-handed-hitting Mahoney has a great opportunity to break camp with the club. The 6-6, 240-pound Mahoney made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2012 and went hitless in four at-bats spanning two games. At 26, Mahoney has outgrown the prospect status he enjoyed as a sixth-round pick out of the University of Richmond in 2007. In 2010, he was the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Year after hitting a combined .307/.366/.498 between advanced-A and Double-A. Mahoney spent most of last season at Triple-A Norfolk and didn't show the same pop (.389 slugging percentage).

Marcell Ozuna

If the Marlins are unable to lock up Stanton and at some point feel compelled to trade him, Ozuna is a good bet to take his place. Baseball America rated Ozuna the organization's fifth-best prospect and third-best position player prospect behind Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick. Ozuna likely wouldn't make Marlins fans forget about Stanton, but he's equipped to be a productive middle-of-the-order bat. He's already an outstanding defender with a Vladimir Guerrero-esque arm. In the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, Ozuna last season paced the circuit with 24 homers and ranked fourth in slugging (.476). At 22, Ozuna will open at Double-A Jacksonville, where his at times spotty plate discipline is sure to be tested.

Zack Cox

The Marlins acquired Cox from the Cardinals for reliever Edward Mujica last July. A product of Arkansas, many considered Cox the best bat in the 2010 draft. The Cardinals certainly did, evidenced by the $3.2 million big league contract they gave Cox after selecting him 25th overall. Through three professional seasons Cox has not fallen short of expectations. The Cardinals fast-tracked him and 2012 got away from Cox. He was hurt and had some issues trying to implement different hitting mechanics. The result was a combined .254/.301/.409 slash line between Triple-A Memphis and Jacksonville. Cox's defense is suspect, prompting questions about whether he can be a long-term solution at third.